Courageous Challengers v Radiant Stars

With the race for the top 4 finishes hotting up, two sides that have not been getting the rub of good results clashed at Cheam CC for a crucial tie in the KCL24. Tahir Kang’s Challengers won the toss and elected to bat first.

Replicating the excellent striking form of Safwan Manzoor from a couple of days earlier, Hafiz Marfoud announced himself in the league with some extraordinary ball striking abilities himself. Both Marfoud and Faizanullah made life extremely difficult for the Star’s bowlers by putting on a thumping 98 run partnership for the first wicket, broken only in the 11th over with Imran Tahir removing Faizan for 28. Tahir arrived at the crease to continue the charge and press, his quick 25 off 13 balls was part of a 47 run partnership off 23 balls and not leaving any breathing space for the Star’s bowlers, who were seriously struggling to get a grip of this match with the score at 145-2 in 15 overs. Hafiz Marfoud eventually fell for a well made 90 off 54 balls, having smashed 8 fours and 6 sixes in his innings. The remaining batsmen from the Challengers stretched the total as much as they could finishing the innings on 193-4 in their 20 overs. A strong total that would require a big effort in the chase to achieve.

The Stars had the correct personal to chase this massive total requiring 9.5 runs per over, with the return of Daud Ahmed giving them the sense of assurance that they can make a game of this. Unfortunately for them, Daud couldn’t get going with captain Tahir Kang taking it upon himself to remove Daud early with the score at 24-1 in 4 overs. Tehseen continued to show his good form with the bat by producing another 48 off 33 balls, staying right in contention as the leading runs scorer this season with the bat.

Mahir’s wicket of Tehseen with the score at 65-2 in 7 overs was a defining blow to the chase. Farukh (42 off 38) tried his best to hold one end for his side, but the batsmen around him all struggled to get going and gain any momentum in this chase. It all proved too much and too difficult for the Stars who eventually could only muster 152-7 in response, allowing the Challengers to win by 41 runs.

The Challengers having come close on a few occasions finally got over the line to register their first victory of the season. The Stars on the other hand have now had a fair share of negative results, and will have to be in their best form going into the remaining group matches of this year’s campaign.